Swedish popPopShort for popular music, a broad genre built on catchy melodies, clear hooks, and polished production that aims to reach a wide audience. Pop constantly borrows from other styles, andGo to Pop Glossary stars Zara Larsson and Robyn have crossed paths in the pop world several times. Despite the many collaborations and differences in eras within Sweden’s lineup of pop legends, both artists kept gushing over the fact that they were sharing a room. For Rolling Stone’s Musicians on Musicians, Larsson and Robyn spoke to each other about working with queer and female producers, the culture shock of the music industry in America, and making a name for themselves in their home country.
Robyn is known for hits like “Show Me Love,” produced with Max Martin, and 2010’s “Dancing on My Own,” which came out more than a decade later. Larsson, on the other hand, found her footing by joining the industry at a young age with hits like 2015’s “Lush Life” and “Never Forget You,” and 2025’s “Midnight Sun.” Larsson showed her appreciation by calling Robyn the “mother of popPopShort for popular music, a broad genre built on catchy melodies, clear hooks, and polished production that aims to reach a wide audience. Pop constantly borrows from other styles, andGo to Pop Glossary music,” but Robyn clarified that getting to where she is now wasn’t easy, especially in the pop industry in the United States, far from her home in Stockholm.
“It was really hard to navigate it, actually, because no one else was doing it. So it felt very lonely,” Robyn says. “There was a total culture shock for me coming to America at that time, not having anyone else to look at from where I came from. Because the cultures are different, it was definitely lost in translation.”
Social Issues and Pop Music
Larsson found echoes of her own career in Robyn’s story, from joining the industry young to making a name for herself outside Sweden, even with decades between them. She said she grew up learning about the world online, starting with a blog she kept at 13. Reading about social issues there taught her how people behave and built her empathy and compassion for those affected. That background is why speaking up on these issues comes naturally to her.
“In my world, to speak about abortions, immigrants, human rights, that doesn’t feel like a big thing,” Larsson says. “But then you say it and you see the backlash, and you’re like, ‘Oh, whoops!’ If I wasn’t a singer, I think I would still be out there just letting people know how I feel.”
Having a platform today also means being responsible with it. With their fans backing the causes they speak up for, Robyn asks Larsson about writing alongside women and queer songwriters.
“With women, or with queer people, or with people that have the same references, the same life experiences, you don’t have to explain yourself that much. You’re just understood,” Larsson says. “That can obviously happen with anyone, but I think it’s a shortcut to get the straight men out of there.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Robyn’s greatest hits include “Show Me Love” and “Dancing on My Own.”
Zara Larsson’s greatest hits include “Lush Life,” “Never Forget You,” “Midnight Sun,” to name a few.
Zara Larsson was only 13 years old when she kept a blog online to interact with the world.
Robyn’s frequent collaborator is Swedish producer Max Martin.
Zara Larsson’s latest album is 2025’s Midnight Sun.
Recommended Video
